WV The Institute Finances, Hours, Ancillary Fees and More issues At The BoG by Jen Eby 1996/97 student reps to the Board of Governors, Jen Eby and Linda Szasz, were requested to write about the most important issues and deliberations of the Board over the past year and their own positions on these. The following is Jen Eby’s response. Linda Szasz was not able to respond by press time. Board of Governors First of all, | should state that | am not completely com- fortable writing this, because the Board, to me, is a compli- cated body that deals with an extremely diverse number of issues, all of which are important. | am much more comfort- able talking about these issues than writing about them. However, here is a summary of certain Board activities and what | have learned and experienced in the past eight months: What is the Board's purpose? Sometimes | think this is something many people misun- derstand (including myself, at a certain time, and lots of the people at the Advanced Education Council’s workshop for Board development). Effort is made to not be a “rubber- stamping “ body, but lots of the business the Board deals with is accepting reports from committees, departments and individuals. Even if we are accepting a simple report, there is always some time for comment and discussion. At the Board development seminar that | attended in November, it was stressed that Board members represent the constituency from which they are elected, but that as members of the Board of Governors they are obliged and must always act in the best interests of the Institute, whether that is in contrast to the interests of one’s particular interest group. The Board of Governors is the body between the provincial government and the inner workings of the school. It is the body that is responsible for maintaining the Institute's finances, and for hiring the president, who then informs and advises the Board. Approving the budget / monitoring the financial situation. Every meeting Vice-President Mike Clifford hands out the current financial statements and explains any anomalies/problems. Sometimes, the Board is asked to approve changes in policy, e.g.: building hours, suspension of the Italy program.... These changes are not taken lightly, and often | have voted not for what | wished could happen, but for what is the most responsible course of action. (We didn’t vote on the building hours, though). And, the faculty offered their pay increase (it. was retroactive) to help the Institute's budget to only have a small deficit ($120,000). Also because of this, the Board has made the decision not to meet every month in person (many of the members are from out of town because we have a provincial mandate and are sup- posed to service the entire province, so it costs the Institute extra money to transport them to meetings). Instead we are having teleconferences about every third meeting. Most of the Board’s time is taken up discussing finances in one way or another. There is simply not enough money. Building hours. This has been a highly contentious issue. | firmly believe that the school should be opened according to student demand. By this | mean that if it is clear that many students are here, using the facilities way into the night, then late hours should be a priority. Unfortunately for those who do work at night, the numbers at the beginning of the term are just not high enough to keep the place open. However, | think the students should keep an eye on the figures that facilities, the building committee, and the security gang are looking at because | find them sometimes hard to believe. The plan for next year is to poll the whole Institute in a more complete way, and go with the most hours the Institute can afford, arranged according to the wishes of the population. Hopefully this will satisfy the most people. The Multi-Institute Framework Agreement This was, to me, a very complicated document. It had to do with the relationship between the Post Secondary Employers’ Association (PSEA) and the “joint union commit- tee” (BCGEU, CIEA,CUPE, OTEU and PPWC). It was not partic- ularly easy to understand, written by committee, and eventually it was rejected by Emily Carr Institute’s Board, long after the deadline for ratification. The biggest concern was that it would be counterproductive to contract negotia- tions and that it would remove the Emily Carr Institute’s autonomy in dealing with the unions/associations represent- ed at the Institute. In short, the perceived benefits did not outweigh the perceived costs. This was one of the first issues Ron Burnett was asked to report on. Ancillary Fees | can’t quote minutes for this one but there was a short- lived idea to charge students an “equipment fee” something around $10 per three credits. The plan was quashed by the Provincial Government because it dictates whether or not the Institute can charge ancillary fees. | didn’t like this idea much, because it increases the barrier faced by many students, but being from a department which is heavily reliant on expen- sive technology (Design), personally, | would rather pay than suffer with poor equipment. In the end, though, | think | would have voted against it because of the elitist attitude it seemed to promote. If anyone is interested in the Board and what it does in more detail, | would encourage them to read the minutes of our meetings, which are posted outside the Deans’ offices. | spend a great deal of time reading these and other reports for the meetings as well. Also, | strongly encourage anyone interested in the survival of the Institute as BC's premier art and design facility to get involved at the Institute. @ 90% ATTENDANCE INCREASE! Twenty-seven people including Ron Burnett and Michael Clifford, C.A., attended the second Meet The Chief Executive Artist session, held February 13, 1997. photograph by Alicia Fennell March 1997 / Planet of the Arts 53 What Is The Boartl of Governors? The Board of Governors (also known as Board of Trustees) is the senior governing body of the Institute. It is made up of members appointed by the Ministry, the Chair of the Education Council, the President of the Institute and elected representa- tives from the faculty, support staff and the student body. The Board is responsible for the governance of the Institute. While it does. not participate in day to day administration, it establishes the governing structure and policy setting. It is also responsible for the maintenance of the financial integrity of the Institute and the development and approval of its bylaws. The evaluation of the President and the establishment of the mecha- nisms that monitor instruction also fall under its jurisdiction. What Is The Education Council? The Education Council is the senior committee in the Institute. It is made up of appointed Administrators and elected representatives from the faculty, support staff and the student body. The purpose of the Education Council is to provide a frame- work for the orderly development and resolution of academic policy by a broad representation of the Emily Carr community after constructive discussion. The Council must advise the Board and the Board must seek advice from the Council on the devel- opment of various educational policies. Two student reps will be elected to the Board of Trustees and four to the Education Council, all for a one year term com- mencing May 1, 1997. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 7, 1997 at 4:00 pm sharp. You can get the nomination forms from the Registrar. Note: last year only 10% of Full Time and Part Time stu- dents voted!!! (WW The Institute Finances, Hours, Ancillary Fees and More Issues At The BoG by Jen Eby 1996197 student reps to the Board of Governors, Jen Eby and Linda $2352, were requested t0 write about the most lIimportant issues and deliberations of the Board over the past {year and their own positions on these. The following is Jen Eby’ response. Linda $2as2 was not able to respond by press time Board of Governors First of all I should state that | am not completely com: fortable writing this, because the Board, to me, is a compli ‘ated body that deais with an extremely diverse number of issues, al of which are important. | am much more comfort able talking about these issues than writing about them, However, here i @ summary of certain Board activities and ‘what | have learned and experienced in the past eight months: What isthe Board's purpose? ‘Sometimes I think this something many people misun- erstand (including mysel, ata certain time, and lots of the people at the Advanced Education Counci's workshop for Board development). Effort is made to not be a "rubber stamping * body, but lots of the business the Board deals with i accepting reports from committees, departments and individuals. Even if we are accepting a simple report, there is always some time for comment and discussion. At the Board evelopment seminar that! attended in November, it was stressed that Board memibers represent the constituency from Which they are elected, but that 35 members of the Board of Governors they are obliged and must always ac in the best Interests ofthe institute, whether that iin contrast to the Interests of one’s particular interest group. The Board of Governors is the body between the provincial government {and the inner workings ofthe school. Ii the Body that i Fesponsible for maintaining the Insitute’ finances, and for hiring the president, who then informs and advises the Board ‘Approving the budget / ‘monitoring the financial situation. Every meeting Vice-President Mike Clifford hands out the ‘urcent financial statements and explains any ‘anomalievproblems. Sometimes, the Board if asked to ‘pprove changes in policy, eg: building hours, suspension of the italy program... These changes are not taken lightly, and ‘often {have voted not for what I wished could happen, but ‘for what isthe most responsible course of action. (We didn’t vote on the building hours, though). And, the faculty offered ‘their pay increase it was retroactive) to help the Institute's budget to only have a small deficit ($120,000), Aso because of this, the Board has made the decision not to meet every ‘month in person (many of the members are from out of town because we have a provincial mandate and are sup posed to service the entire province, $0 it costs the Institute xtra money to transport them to meeting) Instead we are having teleconferences about every third meeting, Most of the Board's time is taken up discussing finances in one way or another. There is simply not enough money. Building hours. Tis has been a highly contentious issue. | firmly believe that the school should be opened according to student demand. By this | mean tha ft is clear that many students fare here, using the facilities way into the night, then late hhours should be a priority. Unfortunately for those who do Work at night, the numbers atthe beginning ofthe term are Just not high enough to keep the place open. However, think the students should keep an eye on the figures that facilities, the building committe, and the security gang are looking at because | find them sometimes hard to believe. The plan for next year i to pol the whole Institute in 9 more complete way, and go with the most hours the institute can afford, arranged according to the wishes ofthe population. Hopefully this wil satisfy the most people. ‘The Multi.institute Framework Agreement “Tis was, o me, a very complicated document. tt had to do withthe relationship between the Post Secondary Employers’ Association (PSEA) and the "joint union commit. tee" (BCGEU, CIEA,CUPE, OTEU and PPWQ) It was not partic larly easy to understand, written by committee, and eventually it was rejected by Emily Carr Institute's Board, long after the deadline for ratification. The biggest concern was that it would be counterproductive to contract negotia tions and that it would remave the Emily Car Institutes ‘autonomy in dealing with the unions/associations represent. fed atthe institute. In short, the perceived benefits did not ‘outweigh the perceived costs. This was one of the frst sues Ron Burnett was asked to report on ‘Ancillary Fees Tan’ quote minutes for this one but there was a shor. lived idea to charge students an “equipment fee” something ‘around $10 per three credit, The plan was quashed by the Provincial Government because it dictates whether or not the Institute can charge anclary fees. I didn’t ike ths idea much, because it increases the barrier faced by many students, but boeing from a department whichis heavily reliant on expen: Sive technology (Design), personally, | would rather pay than Suffer with poor equipment. n the end, though, | think | ‘would have voted agains it because of the elitist attitude it seemed to promote. anyone is interested in the Board and what it does in more detail | ‘would encourage them to fead the minutes of our ‘meetings, which are posted outside the Deans offices. I spend a great eal of time reading these and other reports for the ‘meetings 35 wel. Aso, Strongly encourage Anyone interested in the Survival ofthe Insitute a¢ BC premier art and design facility to get Involved at the Institute. 50% ATTENDANCE INCREASE! Twenty-seven people including Ron Burnett and M tended the Second Meet The Cet Execute Artist session, 3c Clifor, CA held February 13, 1997 March 1997 / Planet of the Arts 53 What Is The Board of Governors? ‘membcsapoted by he Mt the Caw of the Eaton Ineteate pd the Sevetopment sd approval tts bya. The ‘The Edenton Counc isthe senor commie inthe ‘wok forte order development and reson of ageme ‘pment of vrour educator poles ‘Note: last yar only 10% of Full Tie and Part Time stu ‘Sent wotwait By Leah Choraiak, Robert Morgan and Martha ee dor ln «ait teat ‘ero 01 An 8 —oo oe owe.